Bonhams

George Daniels. A very fine and rare 18ct white gold automatic calendar centre seconds wristwatch, one of only seven made in white gold, together with original box and receipts, correspondence and 2006 Retrospective Exhibition catalogue signed by Dr George Daniels

George Daniels. A very fine and rare 18ct white gold automatic calendar centre seconds wristwatch, one of only seven made in white gold, together with original box and receipts, correspondence and 2006 Retrospective Exhibition catalogue signed by Dr George Daniels

Footnotes

The late Dr George Daniels CBE was undoubtedly the most famous and well respected watch maker this world has known. Since 1969, Dr Daniels worked hard to successfully continue and revive the world of handmade mechanical watches which were threatened by the emergence of the quartz watch. He was most famously the first watchmaker in 200 years to invent a new watch escapement,'The Co-Axial,' which he declared to be 'designed to have low friction and so not affected by viscosity of oil, so that the greatest cause of change in rate is eliminated..'the escapement will actually run indefinitely.'

In 1994, Dr Daniels, by this time 68 years of age, not only wrote and published the entitled, 'The practical watch escapement,'but the launch of his Co-axial escapement at the Basel watch fair proved a huge success, after which ETA (part of the retail giants Swatch and Omega) agreed to commercially produce watches with this escapement. The prototype Daniels watch with the Co-axial was also completed in 1999, and thereafter 12 watches were made each year for four years.

This particular lot is only one of seven made in white gold and fitted with the Co-axial escapement. A similar watch is illustrated in the retrospective brochure, on page 87.(item 34)

Dr Daniels mentions in one of the letters to the owner dated 9th of February 2001 that, 'the production of watches by Omega are proving to be a huge commercial success. It is now delare [declared, sic] policy of the Company to use the Co-Axial escapement throughout their products...Yours is the first series of the Co-Axial which I'm sure will give you much pleasure.' In another he asks that 'as it is one of the first ever series with the Co-Axial watches, I would be interested, from time to time, to have your comments on its progress...'

We are most grateful to Mr David Newman for his help with the research on this watch.

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.

Buyers' Obligations

ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.

If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.

Buyers' Premium and Charges

For all Sales categories excluding Wine, Coins & Medals and Motor Cars and Motorcycles:A successful bidder at this sale will be required to pay Bonhams 1793 Limited ("Bonhams") a premium calculated as follows: 25% on the first £100,000 of the hammer price20% on the excess of £100,001 and up to £2,000,000 of the hammer price12% on the excess of £2,000,001 of the hammer price

VAT at 20% will be payable on the amount of the premium.

The premium is payable for the services to be provided by Bonhams in the Buyer's Agreement which is contained in the catalogue for this Sale and for the opportunity to bid for the Lot at the Sale.